Three Syrians shot dead while crossing Turkish border

MARDIN

Fleeing Syrians arrive with their belongings at night in the Shebaa region of southern Lebanon, Nov. 11, 2013. REUTERS photo

Three Syrians have been killed by border troops while seeking to cross into Turkey through the southeastern province of Mardin.

The Syrian intruders, who were trying to walk over a mined area on the border, were shot dead on Nov. 17 by Turkish soldiers, according to Doğan News Agency.

An armored vehicle opened fire at around 1.30 a.m., after the Syrians ran toward the Turkish border village of Yeniyol, despite repeated warnings from soldiers to stop, the agency reported. 

The bodies of three men who died at the spot have been sent to the Forensic Medicine Institution in Malatya. 

Police and gendarmerie force were dispatched to the region immediately after the incident to carry out a comprehensive search and examination.

The security forces have revisited the site as part of the investigation into the incident.